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via @StPaulSaints

Saints Shutout in Second Straight Night in Final Home Game of 2017

ST. PAUL, MNAugust 31, 2017

The St. Paul Saints couldn’t avoid the sweep on Thursday night as they were shutout for the second night in a row by the Winnipeg Goldeyes 5-0, in the final home game of 2017 at CHS Field in front of 8,722. The win clinched the North Division title for the Goldeyes and the loss drops the Saints to 47-49. They have lost six in a row, the longest losing streak of the season. It is the first time since August 20-22, 2013 that the Saints have been shutout in back-to-back games. They were shutout in three straight games by the Goldeyes.

All of the runs for the Goldeyes were scored in the fourth inning. Josh Romanski led off the inning with a single, then moved to second when Reggie Abercrombie was walked by Dustin Crenshaw. Shawn Pleffner lined a single into right field and while Romanski was running to the plate, trying to beat the throw home, he collided with catcher Tanner Lubach. The benches cleared,but Romanski was ruled safe scoring the first run of the ballgame and Abercrombie moved to third. David Bergin then scored Abercrombie on an RBI single to left field and Pleffner crossed the plate on a groundout by Wes Darvill to put the Goldeyes up 3-0. Mason Katz stepped up and belted a two-run shot over the left field fence to increase the Goldeyes lead to 5-0.

The Saints left runners on second base three times, but were never able to reach third base. In the third inning, Ben Buerkle reached on a one-out single, then moved to second on a single by Jon Kristoffersen. Tim Colwell grounded out and Mitch Delfino struck out to end the inning.

In the sixth, Colwell led off with a single to right field,but Delfino and Brady Shoemaker both struck out. Dan Johnson moved Colwell to second when he reached on a walk, but Nate Hanson hit a fly out to end the inning.

In the ninth inning, Johnson reached on a single, but Hanson and Carter were both retired. With two outs, Maxx Garrett lined a single into left field to put runners at first and second, but Ben Buerkle grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the ballgame.

The Saints travel to Kansas City to face the T-Bones for the final series of the season beginning Friday at 7:05 p.m. The Saints will send LHP Jeff Malm (1-2, 3.74) to the mound to face RHP Gabe Perez (7-6, 486). The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB.